Thaindian News

Jodhpur, Oct 13 (IANS) The Rajasthan High Court Thursday sought an explanation from police why they have not questioned all those named in the case of missing nurse Bhanwari Devi, who allegedly features on a CD in a compromising position with state minister Mahipal Maderana, a lawyer said.

The court sought the explanation when counsel for the nurse’s husband, Amarchand, raised objection on the fact that Maderna has not been questioned by police so far though his name figures in the first information report for rape, kidnap and murder of Bhanwari Devi.

“The court has asked the government about its motive behind not questioning the accused people in the case, including Mahipal Maderna. The next hearing in the matter will be held Monday,” Amarchand’s lawyer Sandeep Shah told IANS.

The high court had Tuesday asked police to submit every alternative day the investigation report in the case of missing nurse.

The direction had come after the court observed that the state government had not shown seriousness in tracing the nurse.

Addressing the allegations of Amarchand, the court asked police why the role of the state cabinet minister has not been probed properly in the matter.

Meanwhile, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team arrived in Jodhpur Wednesday and took over the case.

The additional chief judicial magistrate in Jodhpur Sep 24 directed police to include Maderna as an accused and probe his role under sections 376 (rape), 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

Police have arrested a government contractor from Jodhpur’s Bilada area, and had detained three youths from Sikar district, but let them off due to lack of evidence.

During interrogation, the name of Shahbuddin, a a mechanic from Pipad area here, also came up. An officer said he is suspected to be the key link who can lead the police to the woman, but he has not yet been traced.

The Rajasthan government has also ordered a CBI probe into the case.

Bhanwari Devi has remained absent from duty since Aug 25, confined herself to her home for a few days and then went missing Sep 1. A missing person complaint was lodged by her husband the next day. The complaint was then turned into a kidnapping case.